Issues & Initiatives

CNHED distinguishes itself by harnessing the differences across our diverse membership and with our allies to create collaboration that results in real solutions for under-resourced residents of the District. The impact of this engagement translates to strong infrastructure for community development that goes beyond any single organization or individual.

Below is the range of issues and initiatives on which CNHED engages. Each of these are approached from a lens of social, economic and racial justice.

Issues

Affordable Housing & Homelessness

CNHED is dedicated to both homeless prevention and affordable housing efforts that ensure the most vulnerable and hardest to house residents have a home, as well as ensure that safe and affordable housing is available throughout the District for under-resourced residents.

Small Business

CNHED is dedicated to supporting the District’s small businesses through special initiatives, policy advocacy, and capacity building. Small Businesses provide an invaluable contribution to both the District economy and society as a whole.

Workforce Development

CNHED has embraced workforce development as part of its Equitable Communities framework. CNHED convenes and engages workforce development provider organizations to advocate for a workforce development system that serves the needs of District’s residents, who are unemployed and hardest to service.

Recovery & Resiliency

Throughout the past year, we have faced an unprecedented public health crisis that has drastically impacted our work, the work of our members, and the communities we work to serve.

Racial Equity and Social Justice

We recognize our role in addressing the systemic causes that have led the country to the place that it is now. From embracing a racial justice lens throughout all our work, to establishing a commitment to diverse and inclusive staff recruitment, CNHED supports community economic development initiatives that benefit racial and economic equity and minimize disparity.

Initiatives

DC Community Anchor Partnership

The DC Community Anchor Partnership (DCAP) is a collaborative of prominent institutions committed to leveraging their operations to advance equitable economic development in the District of Columbia.

Housing Insights & Asset Mapping

Launched in October 2017, the Housing Insights serves as a robust visual map of DC’s subsidized housing stock.

VISTA Strong Communities

VISTA is a subset of the AmeriCorps program, a subset funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). VISTAs are full-time volunteers who commit to a year of service combatting poverty by partnering with local government agencies, nonprofits, and educational institutions.

DC Landlord Partnership Fund

The purpose of the District of Columbia Landlord Partnership Fund is to incentivize landlords to families or individuals who are exiting homeless and have rental assistance through specific DC Department of Human Services (DHS) programs.

ELEVATE: MBE Executive Education

ELEVATE, which stands for Executive Leadership Education Venture Advancing Talented Entrepreneurs, aims to provide best-in-class training to minority small businesses located in the DC to acquire new skills that will allow them to more effectively and efficiently manage their business’ products and services and increase revenue and employment.

Become a member of CNHED today

and join the fight for a District where all residents can live in thriving communities that are racially, economically and socially just!

Become a Member